Another gem of a source with Charlie Miller's name. There is some others in our world that gave fine fine fine work Oade brothers, Jeff Silverstein, but usually when I want to listen to a show Charlie's name is one I look for. 87 Greek shows were AWESOME I thought. My 1st Greek run was 85 and I never missed one afterwards. 1985-1989. Even though I'd done 2984 summer and fall shows and was blown away in Philly Spring 85, The 85 Greek shows were sublime, classic-prob where it was a done deal that I was 100% on the bus for life. Anyways the pre drums doesn't look like much on paper Space>Aiko>Looks Like Rain>Deal>drums it was magical. I have memories of this guy dancing ON TOP OF THE SEATS at the top of the "floor"there at the Greek. It's about 4inches and this dude is getting DOWN during a rollicking Deal. It was 1st Watchtower thstThr Dead played & it was as firece & RAW as it gets ! Imo as good as Watchtower was for the boys there is something about the energy from this one that stands out ! 1987 was a pretty good year. 1985 they went all out imo, playing the most different dongd of any year then 1987 they definitely fell off. Jerry got sick forcing the cancellation of Ventura, any fdll shows . . . They were uneven that year with Valentine's Day bring one exception & of course it was the year Phil finally broke out The Box of Rain after getting s mic again in late 84 . . . Anyways I enjoyed this run the night before they leave aid down super high energy Bertha>Greatest Story to open set two. For this one pre drums and Watchtower to g truest in my memory. Thanks once again my friend Charlie Miller for your love, time & work ITS MUCH APPRECIATED !

strong first set, outrageously good set 2 w/ so many highlights; Any show with "space" as Set 2 opener will get my attention, and LLR fans will love this Bobby effort as he and Jerry kinda lift the show still higher and keep peaking through a gorgeous, hot as shit rest of show. Whole band on fire, but Bobby goes the extra mile -- the sugar mag and sat nite leave craters from the combustion. Thanks to the dedicated folk who made this outstanding recording of an outstanding show available. made my evening.

This was a top 20 show for me, maybe even higher. I loved the bizarre Looks Like Rain / Deal in the second set.

But what I will never forget is the crowd reaction to the debut of Watchtower. I was right in front of Jerry, and when Bob started the riff, there was this sort of "whoa" coming from the crowd, and when he started singing, I could definitely feel the wave of excitement sweep through the Greek.

Unlike every other cover, this first one was so great right off the bat.

I sang a little while and then flew on

Ok I too love the mastering of the miller sounding shows. YES he deserves alot of credit but (not meant to negate the compliment) A lot of these remastered shows are taped by "Joani Walker; Paul Scotton "
That said, these shows rock. i loved the post rythm devils this night. We all knew the watchtower was coming. We just did not know when and and what show. The rumors had been flying around for some time. I love the fact that they pull it out on a night I think they were REALLY on. Have been to every show from Ventura 82 to fall of 89 am more a favorite of the earlier 80's. Gone are the days we stopped to decide. And as wavy gravy always said THESE R THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

This is one of the sickest post-drums sequences post-coma that you can find. Watchtower is incredible as is the Other One. The interplay on TOO rivals that of great versions throughout the years. What a funny show, it's like they were ending the 1st set in the front half of the 2nd set. Iko is also a crushing version! PLAY LOUD

This show is full of idiosyncrasies and surprises that make it a real standout for 1987.

First off, instead of the more usual Bucket>Sugaree which was common for 1987, we get
Bucket>Franklin's, both of which are energetically played and have the effect of putting the ball high in the air and keeping it bouncing. A very strong opening and a good omen
for what's to come.
That said, the song list for the first set doesn't look very special. And, as often happened
in the 80's, the set is pretty short - clocking in at just over 47 minutes.
However, it's a very satisfying set by which the brevity really increases your anticipation for the Heavy Stuff in the second set. More on that in a minute, hah!

Brent's organ is low in the mix during the first part of Minglewood, but that gets fixed just in time for him to back up Jerry and Bob just absolutely going crunch crazy on guitars during the middle section. Wow, they find new ways for this old song to kick ass yet again.

Loser is always a welcome addition to the first set. Jerry delivers it with a bit of shaky in his voice, yet plenty of conviction and soul. I do wish Bob, who otherwise plays well here, would lose the wah on his guitar. Loser is not a wah song, Bob.

Esau took a while for me to warm up to, but I did. Not a top Bob song for me, but the chord structure does provide some great opportunities for the band to work out and jam. Almost sounds like a song the JGB could have done, you know? Same kinda Jerry band backbeat groove. Nice B3 playing by Brent here.
Bird Song is the gem of the set, at over 9 minutes, they stretch out and really shine this
song till it sparkles. Not the best of the year, but very satisfying and again, it points the
way towards something greater. And how.

Let's see now. Loser, Franklin's, Bird Song, Iko, Deal - all favorite songs of Jerry's. Could this mean that this is destined to be a Jerry show? That Jerry is not in Stuporville tonight, no Sir. He's on home base and ready to blow your mind? Indeed.

What??? A Space to start Set Two?? Frantic tripping people doing reality checks with their neighbors - "Did I just zone out the first part of the set?"
Surprise number one, just to mess with ya, a nice little 2 minute Space to get you warmed up. Then a lively Iko ensues. Lots of audience call and response on this SBD, a real warm sonic "you are there" sound to this. Thanks Mr. Miller.

Iko, LL Rain and Deal all well played, if a little on the short side. Okay we're happy and
smiling wide. Deal just rolled us up and smoked us - listen to the crowd cheer Garcia's solo !! So now we're ready for ........ Drums??? What? Did time just go through a wormhole?
"The show will soon be over and I haven't even peaked yet". That's right, surprise number two - they play about 20 minutes and break for Drums after 3 songs.

But before you ask for your money back, there's surprise number three - they come back from Drums and absolutely blow your mind. They raise the spirit of the ancient Greek God Dionysus, and maybe a few others too.

Jeesuz, Mary and Joe. What party favors did the Dead have backstage?? Drums is very trippy to begin with. Mickey is on the beam I believe here, sounding like the voice of cosmic background radiation when God was a boy. More effects than drumming here, but very interesting and weird. On the mellow side for Drums.

Jerry enters the mix in the stratosphere with long bendy notes, keeping things mellow yet on the outer fringes. The crowd actually starts clapping during Space. Those that can still move their arms, that is. Nice guitar effects by Bob here too, matches what Jerry is doing well. At over 9 minutes, this Space almost takes the place of a Dark Star. It's that crafted and creative. Relax and float downstream, Lucy and Billy Shears. Bob and Jerry go to sans effects, and with ringing clear tones throw out showers of rainbow sparklers. We haven't even got to the good part yet.

Gimme Lovin brings us back to reality a bit and lets the crowd know that the boys are gonna make up for a short pre-Drums. Brent channels the soul of Jon Lord (Deep Purple) on B3 here, just a massive sound. Winding down the song, Jerry turns the corner into - Watchtower !!! The crowd goes nuts. The first ever. Talk about throwing gasoline on the fire. Bob does a great job on vocals. And Jerry just plays like a crazy man. We're having some fun now. The segue to Wheel works nicely. The thunder and lightning do their work, then Bob starts the familiar riff that leads us to The Other One.
A short version, but one that doesn't waste any time in the face stealing department. A few Healey vocal effects give that extra edge. Jerry really rips it up, with Phil matching him lick for lick. Wharf Rat is the obvious follower, a nice long version that has the feel of a monster Dew. Burgundy wine and vocal harmonies that chill your spine. The jam at the end is fat and crunchy. That leads us to a fine Sugar Mag, which sends us out the door dancing, in true Dead fashion.

A show brimming with energy from beginning to end, where the band came to play. That, and the many surprises this night make this a top ten for me. Hope you enjoy as well.
Recommended, even for 70's die-hards.

cheers,
Dr. Flashback :-)

Words? Stars? Not enough of either to review this.